Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia has deployed nearly 50,000 soldiers to Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian troops launched a cross-border attack on this southern Russian region in August this year, seizing large areas.
Zelensky stated on the social media platform Telegram that Ukrainian soldiers are currently engaged in combat against almost “50,000 enemy troops” in Kursk.
The President made this announcement after receiving a briefing from Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He also mentioned that Ukraine will significantly strengthen its positions on the frontlines in the strategic hubs of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the east, where the fighting is most intense.
In August of this year, Ukraine unexpectedly attacked Kursk, marking the first military action on Russian territory since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Following the attack, Ukraine also occupied some areas in the region.
Analysts suggest that Ukraine’s intention may be to draw Russia’s reserve forces to Kursk, potentially weakening Russian operations in several locations in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine.
However, Russia continues to advance slowly but steadily in most parts of eastern Ukraine, village by village, as it seeks to gain control over the industrial region of Donbas.
After the surprise attack on Kursk, Ukrainian forces swiftly penetrated into Russian territory, holding hundreds of square miles of land. Despite Russia’s recapture of some areas, the frontline has seen minimal changes in the past months.
Furthermore, the US government stated on October 31 that around 8,000 North Korean soldiers have entered Kursk Oblast, preparing to assist Russia in their upcoming assault on Ukraine. According to US estimates as of early November, total North Korean troops in Russian territory are approximately 10,000, with South Korea and European allies estimating the number to have risen to 11,000. Ukraine’s estimate is even higher, at up to 12,000 soldiers.
Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean soldiers on its territory.
Last Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty with North Korea, formalizing their strategic partnership which includes mutual defense provisions.
Ukrainian officials had earlier stated that North Korean troops directly participated in the fighting in Kursk Oblast.